Numerous fires spark in region over weekend

Two homes destroyed after blazes ignite early Saturday in city, Adair County

Firefighters responded to three fires at two locations within seven hours of each other Saturday morning in Adair County, with one of the homeowners suffering minor burns as he escaped his house.

Both houses involved in the fires are considered total losses, with one having burned to the ground.

Adair County resident Jerry Meyer was transported to Northeast Regional Medical Center by ambulance with minor burns after a kerosene lamp reportedly started a fire on the home’s porch shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday on Red Bud Road in northern Adair County.

Meyer and his family were able to evacuate the house with no other injuries while the house itself burned to the ground.

“The house is a total, total loss,” said Barry Mitchell, Adair County No. 1 fire chief.

He said firefighters were on the scene for about 10 hours ensuring hotspots didn’t remain under the collapsed roof.

“Because the building went down totally, you’re always going to have hot spots and the wind didn’t help,” Mitchell said.

Kirksville firefighters also responded to two fires during the early hours Saturday, both at the same location with the second fire attributed to remaining embers hidden the house’s insulation.

The first fire was reported at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of Dear St. in Kirksville. The fire, which likely started in the garage and furnace area, spread to the garage ceiling and second-story of the house before being contained several hours later.

The home owner was not present at the time of the first fire and there were no injuries reported when firefighters cleared the scene at about 4 a.m.

But they were back hours later, with the fire rekindling itself from embers hidden in the blown-in insulation.

Firefighters again responded at about 7:45 a.m. and contained the fire, which by that time had consumed portions of the roof and second-story.

“We figured that fire had probably set and smoldered for a long time at first,” said KFD Battalion Chief Marc Jefferson. “There were areas in the structure that were not affected by the fire that were heavily-sooted and experienced high heat.”

Neighbors had initially reported hearing explosions similar to fireworks during the first fire, which Jefferson said was most likely exploding window panes or lawn mower supplies in the garage.